RESEARCH NEWS
UH Cancer Center and HMSA collaborate for breast cancer study
The UH Cancer Center is working with the Hawai ‘ i Medical
Service Association ( HMSA ), the largest health plan in the state , to conduct a national first-of-its-kind clinical trial . This research could lead to less anxiety for patients with metastatic breast cancer , improved quality of life for the patients and their families , lower costs for the community , and improve survival outcomes that could result from improving testing for treatment results and disease status in patients .
Team members of the Carbone research lab
LATEST MESOTHELIOMA RESEARCH FINDINGS HIGHLIGHTED IN LEADING SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION
The latest data and a comprehensive overview of mesothelioma research highlighting ways to improve prevention , early detection and treatment of the disease were featured in the September issue of the highly regarded science and medicine peer-reviewed journal , Ca : A Cancer Journal for Clinicians , “ Mesothelioma : Scientific clues for prevention , diagnosis and therapy ”.
The article focuses on the discovery made by UH Cancer Center researcher and the study ’ s lead author , Michele Carbone , MD , PhD , and collaborators that specific gene mutations cause mesothelioma and other cancers , and how asbestos and the mutation of the BAP1 gene interact in this process .
“ The optimal timing and method for disease monitoring of patients with metastatic breast cancer are unclear . However , it is known that more intensive monitoring is not associated with improved survival ,” said Jessica Rhee , MD , MS , UH Cancer Center clinical trials office medical director . “ In addition , over testing is associated with a worse quality of life including increased anxiety , distress and depression as well as increased costs of care .”
The clinical trial will determine whether tumor marker blood tests every six weeks at routine check-ups can be used to monitor breast cancer disease status . The blood tests would then be used to determine if and when imaging studies ( CT scan , PET / CT scan ) are needed . Currently , in addition to blood tests , imaging scans are administered at least every three months to monitor treatment for patients with hormone-receptor positive , Her-2 negative metastatic breast cancer .
The goal of this study is to compare the survival outcome of both groups as well as patient-reported anxiety , patient quality of life and cost of care .
“ Instead of doing both tests , it may be possible to decrease the frequency of testing , improve a patient ’ s quality of life , and reduce the cost of care without affecting survival . Blood tests are associated with fewer complications , take less time , create less anxiety , and cost less than body imaging scans ,” said Rhee .
I AM PROUD OF OUR WORLD-RENOWNED MESOTHELIOMA TEAM IN HAWAI ’ I . SINCE I DISCOVERED THAT MESOTHELIOMA IS CAUSED BY GENE AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS , IT HAS BEEN A GREAT MODEL TO STUDY HOW GENES AND THE ENVIRONMENT INTERACT IN CANCER CAUSATION , AND WE ARE DEVELOPING NEW THERAPIES TO TREAT CANCER WITH BAP1 MUTATIONS
– MICHELE CARBONE , MD , PHD
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Jessica Rhee , MD , MS